The commission reported that the correspondence has subsequently been withdrawn and the official punished, noting that the letter was “not authorized”.
On Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission refuted assertions that it had withdrawn from or given up on the appeal of the decision of the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
On September 20, the court dismissed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had run for governor as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on March 18; Nasiru Gawuna, the APC candidate, was declared the victor.
But Yusuf pledged to appeal the decision, calling it a “misapplication of the law” and claiming that it was unjust.
However, INEC emphasised its position following a letter from its state legal officer, which it termed as “not authorised,” in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
The correspondence has subsequently been withdrawn, and the officer has received criticism, according to the commission.
“We wish to state categorically that where litigants join INEC in a case, the Commission is under obligation to respond accordingly,” the statement read.
“We have consequently asked our solicitors to act in accordance with the Commission’s current stance. The rules remain the same.
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See the full statement below:
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PETITION CASE IN KANO STATE
The attention of the Commission has been drawn to media reports based on a letter written by the Legal Officer of our Kano State office indicating that the Commission had withdrawn from the appeal process in the ongoing Kano Governorship election petition case. We wish to state categorically that the letter was not authorised. It has since been withdrawn and the officer reprimanded.
The public is therefore advised to discountenance the insinuation that the Commission has withdrawn from the case or even worse abandoned the appeal. We wish to state categorically that where litigants join INEC in a case, the Commission is under obligation to respond accordingly.
We have therefore instructed our lawyers to proceed in line with extant policy of the Commission. The policy has not changed. Sam Olumekun mni National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Saturday 7th October 2023
